It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the written word has the power to spark the imagination and inspire new adventures. From Homer’s The Odyssey to Hemmingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, there is no shortage of boating and sailing adventures in literature. So, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a first-time boater, curl up with one of our top five picks for books to inspire your next boating adventure.
The Happy Return by C. S. Forester
The Happy Return is the first novel to feature Horatio Hornblower (though technically the fifth in the series), the most famous fictional officer in the British Royal Navy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Horatio Hornblower embarks on an adventure of epic proportions – facing megalomaniac warmongers, aiding damsels in distress, uncovering dastardly plots and fighting battles on the high seas. Perfect fodder for the imaginative sailor.
Casting Off by Emma Bamford
From Napoleonic battles to high jinks on the high seas. Casting Off: How a City Girl Found Happiness on the High Seas by Emma Bamford is a memoir of one woman’s escape from the rat race to go and live on a yacht with a total stranger and his cat. Which one of us hasn’t dreamed of escaping city life to travel the world on our boat? In this work of non-fiction, Bamford weaves a tale of exotic locales, life lessons learned and no shortage of boating know-how.
The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float by Farley Mowat
Like Emma Bamford, Farley Mowat wanted his own maritime adventure. In The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float, he sets out to purchase his own sailboat – with hilarious consequences. The boat leaks despite the best efforts of Mowat, his wife and a motley crew of local characters. A funny and heart-warming story of chasing your dreams, even when things go wrong. Luckily, you don’t have to make the same mistakes as Mr Mowat with the variety of sea-worthy vessels on our marketplace.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
For those who like a little philosophy and magical realism mixed in with their ocean adventures, Life of Pi ticks all the boxes. In this gripping novel, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel survives a shipwreck only to be set adrift in a lifeboat with a strange companion – a Bengal tiger. At once meditative and thrilling, Life of Pi will set your imagination ablaze. And while the chances of being stuck on a boat with a tiger are pretty slim, we do have advice on what to do with more people-friendly animals on your boat!
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
It would be a major faux pas to leave this classic off a list on literary boats! The Pequod is a familiar name whether you’ve yet to delve into this novel or not. A cornerstone of the man-versus-nature genre, the adventures of Captain Ahab aboard his whaling ship is an exhilarating read. Get up on deck, close your eyes and let that cool breeze from the water rush over you and imagine yourself on an adventure at sea (maybe without the obsessive desire to get revenge on a whale, though. That’s definitely not on the boat safety checklist).
Bonus Book: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Though this is technically a children’s book, it’s a charming read for all ages! Inspired by a summer spent by Ransome teaching his friends’ children to sail, the novel follows a group of children in the Lake District as they sail, camp, fish and play pirates. The feel-good story will make you think of summer days long past and bring a smile to your face. Whether you read this on your own or with your family, this novel is sure to inspire a beautifully nostalgic day out on your boat. Don’t have one of your own? Capture the magic of warm weather and adventure by renting a boat for the summer!
There’s nothing like getting lost in a wild tale of adventure or a well-written true account of a sailing journey. Now it’s time to have a sailing adventure of your own. Check out our marketplace for the perfect boat – and don’t forget to bring a journal. Maybe your voyage will make it to the next list of literary boating adventures.
Image credits: Farley Mowat: Community Archives, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons / Moby Dick map: David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries / Swallows and Amazons Illustration: wwoods, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
